First off, I apologize to my friends and roleplay partners who've been left hanging. Any desire to cancel old threads is completely understandable.

I've been struggling with a serious health issue the past several months. There was a long period where things would seem to improve only to relapse, delaying things further. All that aside, just wanted to let people know I'm around again and to contact me via PM or Trillian - ironsoldier, if anyone wants to get things going again.

Ciara smirked at Sarah when they both stopped short of what would have been an extremely damaging exchange. This girl definitely was going to be worth far more than she expected. Reflexes, power, and no hesitation whatsoever. A girl after Ghost's own heart. The muppets back in the One-Four-One were going to eat this up.

Her eye twitched once in irritation as Sarah placed her own bravery in doubt. Ciara passed Sarah, but halted only a step past her, so that from the side they seemed almost back-to-back. She glared over her shoulder, clearly miffed that a street brawler, of all people, was questioning her mettle.

"Whining's for politicians, and I don't do politics. NO ONE in my unit does. You're not the only girl who's fought someone surrounded by a shitstorm. I admit you're the farthest thing from a glass-jawed pussy, so don't try and pass me off as one, either. I just want a damn fight that doesn't involve something dangerous and made of metal for once."

Ciara walked intently over to the ring and grabbed hold of the lowest rope, then turned to Sarah to trade one last barb before ducking into the ring.

Sarah coldn't help but smirk when she saw how much she was getting to Ciara. She generally had that effect on people. All the better if they were easy to rile up. She raised an eyebow at the mention of Ciara's 'unit'. Was she from the army? Sarah had never fought a soldier before.

"You know, I see you talking," Sarah noted as she made her way to the ring, Rika right behind her. "But all I hear is 'wah, wah, wah'." Sarah removed the white t-shirt she was wearing, revealing a blue sports bra underneath. Now all she wore was that and a pair of black track pants. With her shirt off her back was bare to see, revealing a large black dragon tattooed across her spine. "Excuse me, Rika. I have to go make someone miserable."

"No problem. Kick her ass, Sarah!" Rika cheered. Sarah grinned at her before climbing into the ring after her opponant, and went to stand in the corner, grinning darkly at Ciara.

Ciara tightened her jaw and finally decided to dismiss the subject after Sarah mockingly responded. They'd already agreed to a straight-up fight, and it looked like Ciara would just have to convince Sarah she wasn't a pushover with more than just words. She'd met her fair share of individuals like that in the One-Four-One, just with a more grudging respect because of their necessity for skillful teamwork. Sarah though, the soldier reminded herself, was on the opposite side and had to take a little more "convincing." She felt a twinge of satisfaction at Sarah's confusion, though. Never fought a front-liner before, Queen? Oh, we're going to have LOTS of fun with each other.

She leaned against her corner, taking a few deep breaths, taking in a few things as she loosened her body with each lungful of air. The canvas more or less had the same traction as the one she had fought Rose on. The air was slightly warmer than it had been before as well. Sarah obviously didn't have her weights on this time, and her attire meant the redhead wasn't going to overheat nearly as rapidly as if she was wearing her previous getup, if Sarah even overheated at all.

Ciara rolled her shoulders and cracked her knuckles, letting her thoughts flow away until nothing left was the fight.

Queen of Brawl or not, the bitch is definitely at least a step up from most of the infantry I was slogging it out with in CQB. But sorry, Sarah, if I could survive HIM, I'll definitely be able to go toe-to-toe with you.

Ciara looked up and shot a grim smile back at Sarah. Standing up straight, the raven-haired fighter walked out of her corner towards the Queen of Brawl. She'd stop, beckon with one finger, and wait in the center, challenging Sarah to really get in her face. Ciara really wanted to let the redhead know that she was prepared to take anything thrown at her and that she'd throw it right back. What better way to prove that than starting the match directly within each other's pointblank attack range?

Last edited by 883 on Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:50 pm; edited 1 time in total

Sarah did her own warm up exercises, hopping in one spot, stretching the muscles in her neck and cracking her knuckles in her neck and within in a minute she was ready. Without her weights on she felt much lighter on her feet than she usually was, and her skill in the upcoming fight would improve because of it.

"Oh, that's cute," Sarah remarked as Ciara beckoned her on. Regardless the Queen of Brawl marched forward immediately, stomping across the mat to meet her opponant head on. As soon as she was close enough, Sarah through a simple but powerful right hook across Ciara's face, and then swiftly follow up with a backhanded blow using that same hand.

Ciara didn't even bother to move and took Sarah's first blow full across the cheek, snapping her head to the side and extracting a grunt of pain from the soldier. Her eyes had flinched closed from the impact, but unlike most other fighters would, they flashed open an instant after, locking back onto Sarah. Constant awareness of the fight was vital to someone in her profession, and forcing the eyes open so she could avoid a crippling or killing blow was worth the few discarded milliseconds of comfort. But she almost snorted in laughter when she read Sarah's next move. As the backhand whipped back towards the other side of Ciara's face, she quickly ducked back to let the follow-up blow whistle by her face, even though Sarah's blow clipped the tip of her nose.

As the backhand whistled by, Ciara's left hand snapped up so that the backhand slapped straight into her steely grip. "Back and forth?" Ciara asked incredulously, "This isn't a slapfight, my Queen."

Hauling the girl in by the arm, Ciara shot two rights, one after the other, the first aimed at Sarah's sternum, the second at her face.

When Sarah's knuckles nailed into Ciara's cheek Sarah allowed herself a victorious grin. The first strike was always a treat to get. Her second blow however was dodged and then grabbed. It wasn't entirely unexpected, but it still annoyed Sarah. "How bout a bitch slap then?" Sarah asked mockingly. "You know, cause you're a bitch."

As Sarah was pulled towards Ciara she launched her forehead forward, aiming a hard headbutt directly into the girl's nose. The punch to her sternum would end up hitting her, and she would take it with a pained cough.

Ciara twisted her head to the left; she wasn't up to getting her nose smashed in the fight just yet. WHAM. Sarah's forehead rammed into Ciara's right cheek just as the soldier girl slammed her fist into the redhead's chest. Ciara too felt a deep sense of satisfaction for when she connected for the first time with her opponent, even with the blossoming pain on her cheek. "I sure am a bitch, alley cat," the raven-haired warrior snarled, "The alpha bitch of my fucking WOLF PACK!"

Her left hand released Sarah's wrist and swung quickly around, grabbing firmly on the back of Sarah's neck, keeping both their heads close together, while Ciara's right hand moved upwards from her opponent's chest to roughly grab onto Sarah's left shoulder strap.

The strike to her chest left Sarah almost breathless, bt at least she had repayed the favour to Ciara with that headbtt, even if it had missed its intended target. "Oh, that is so lame!" Sarah shouted back with a malicious grin. "You look like a mangy mutt to me!"

Unfortunately before Sarah could get away Ciara suddenly grabbed her by her neck, causing her to blink in surprise. And then she was hunched over, and the knee drove hard into her firm stomach. Most of the air was forced from Sarah's body, and she gasped in pain. It was soon followed by a snarl. Suddenly wrapped her arms around Ciara's waist, and lifted her clear off the mat. She gave a grin right before she starte squeezing Ciara tightly with all her might, ptting Ciara in a tight bearhug.

Ciara grinned victoriously as her knee drove home, but she gasped in surprise as Sarah wrapped her arms tightly around her. Before the Queen of Brawl could tighten her grip, however, Ciara released her grip with her right hand and thrust it down by her side so Sarah would seize both her waist and her arm at the same time. Still, Sarah lifted her clear upwards and though the arm was taking some of the pressure off of her midsection, the appendage was starting to feel rather uncomfortable as well. Seizing the redhead's other shoulder for leverage, Ciara set up her counter.

"Finally grappling properly? Akashi must be so proud!"

Using her left hand to push her upper body away from Sarah as much as possible, the raven-haired girl thrust her legs out behind her in a variation of a backwards double kick. She was transferring her center of weight far out in front of Sarah, hopefully too much for her opponent to haul upright and keep balanced. If the maneuver worked, Ciara would plant her feet firmly on the ground, drop her stance, and using her right arm as an underhook and wrapping her left arm around Sarah's right to lock hands behind her back, she would engage the Queen of Brawl in a crushing mutual hug.

Sarah had this move worked over on her often enough, she thoght it was time to break it out herself. Her arms were certainly strong enought to crush just about anyone into submission, but Ciara insisted on being difficult. Her balance was thrown off as Ciara struggled, and the army girl would be able to get back onto the grond, and before she knew it Ciara was squeezing her right back. Sarah winced at the strength the girl had, and had to admit she was innovative in reversing the hold.

Rather than get caught in a hugging contest, which Sarah was finding awkward already, Sarah reared back her head and delivered another brutal headbutt into Ciara's face. SHe would keep delivering headbutts until Ciara was forced to let go.